I certainly admire the work and patience of those who work with macro photography. I know that I am not patient enough to do this. I walk around with my 100L and 7D and thats about it. I do find that I prefer the longer reach of the 7D to my 5D MK II with the macro lens. I guess that tells me i would like a 180mm L IS for my 5D MK II if it ever comes out.

My first try at a Macro photo was with my Canon FT QL in 1968 using extension rings. Lighting the subject was difficult, and I gave up the effort pretty quickly. I built a darkroom in a corner of my garage and developed film and dabbled in B&W and even color prints. Then, my first child came along along and with a move to a larger house, I never took up my own developing again until digital developing became possible.

This particular insect is within the Bug Assassin species. I found him on the side of my SUV in roughly 70 degree weather (farenheit). I'd not seen one of these before and wanted to test it level of skittishness. He was not alarmed by my attempting to gently prod it with a pen. I put him in a container and head for home. I placed him on an indoor plant and for the most part he was rather still, not alarmed and a perfect subject to photo via the MP-E 65. Since he did move every 10 seconds or so trying to get more than 7 images was not possible. I wish I had spent more time and put the MT 24EX on 1/2 manual vs. E-TTL as there would have been less harsh light on its hard shelled body. Taken at 2.5 magnification, 7 stacked images via Macro Rail.What's For Dinner? (Zelus tetracanthus) by Revup67, on Flickr

Ryusui

Been playing with the MP-E and MT-24EX for the first time this week. Actually, this is my first real use of any macro lens. Not counting taking a couple test shots in the store with the 50mm and 100mm.

It really is an interesting lens to try and use. Though I'm not completely sold on whether I'd actually buy one.This is my favorite image so far:Doesn't quite stand up to some of the amazing work I've seen here, but I like it.

I think this lens is not about the ultimate resolution, but the great point is the flexibility of fast change magnification to capture nature in action, with a plus of easier focus (comparing with alternatives at same magnification) and very good contrast, some recent shoots:

A APO microscope objective could give you better resolution focus stacked, but would it allow to froze the action ? Could you stop it if necessary ? Could you change magnification fast and without a IQ penalty ?